UK's daily COVID infections pass 32,000 for first time since January - with another 33 deaths
For the first time since January, more than 32,000 coronavirus cases have been recorded in the daily figures released by the government, with another 33 deaths also reported. It comes as Boris Johnson faces questioning from MPs in the Liaison Committee on the COVID pandemic.
Wednesday 7 July 2021 17:15, UK
The UK has recorded another 32,548 COVID cases and 33 deaths, according to the latest government figures.
It is the highest daily case total since January.
Today's figures compare to 28,773 coronavirus cases and 37 deaths recorded on Tuesday.
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This time last week, 26,068 cases and 14 deaths were reported.
It comes as another 238,937 COVID vaccine doses were administered on Tuesday - 85,811 first jabs and 153,126 second doses.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson faced questions from the powerful Liaison Committee this afternoon - including on the topic of COVID and its impact on the country.
Earlier today, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer accused Mr Johnson of putting the country on course for a "summer of chaos and confusion" with his plans to move the country to the fourth and final stage of his roadmap out of lockdown on 19 July.
This is despite Health Secretary Sajid Javid admitting there could be 100,000 coronavirus cases a day within weeks.
During the exchange at Prime Minister's Questions Sir Keir said: "Let's be clear why infection rates are so high - because the prime minister let the Delta - or we can call it the 'Johnson variant' - into the country."
Mr Johnson said the government was taking a "prudent approach" by "moving away from self-isolation towards testing over the course of the next few weeks".
But he repeatedly refused to say how many people he expects to be self-isolating this summer, or how many deaths, hospitalisations and cases of long COVID he thought might occur after the relaxation of restriction on 19 July.
The transport secretary, Grant Shapps, told the Transport Committee earlier on that from 19 July, planes, trains and buses can have their own coronavirus rules - including on mask wearing.
And elsewhere, thousands of women reported changes to their menstrual cycle after having the COVID vaccine.
But experts say this is common with other jabs too, and that fertility is not affected by the inoculation.